Sick Spencer and Other Happenings

Spencer threw up this morning. As soon as he woke up, he went to the trash can. He said he threw up and I told him that he couldn't go to church. But I looked in the trash can later and it was basically empty except for a little bit of spit. So then I planned on him going. He was running around all morning and seemed fine. He even asked for leftover pizza, so I figured he must be fine. But then before we left for church he said his stomach was feeling bad, so we decided he should stay home. Peter stayed with him since I was supposed to sub in nursery today. Good thing he stayed home because he threw up around 11:00, and again around 2:30, and then tonight about 7:30. So I guess he wasn't faking. Poor kid. So no school for him tomorrow. And no YMCA for me. That makes me very sad.

One of the rules in our house that I've instituted in the past few months is that they don't get to watch TV during the week except for when I teach piano lessons. It just seemed like whenever I let them watch TV they would be very grumpy when it was over (especially Spencer, but Marshall, too). And it was like their whole day was waiting for TV. They would ask about it a lot, and beg for it. If I told them they could watch a show if they played nicely for 20 minutes, they would do it, but it was the promise of the show that was more important than playing. Sometimes Spencer would just sit on the couch waiting for the show. I thought that was very lame. So we did the new rule. I think it's worked out well. They know that if there's no piano lessons, there's no TV, so it's not a waiting game and trying to make mom happy so she'll let us watch a show game. And there's no post-show orneriness. That all being said, I might break the rule and let them watch more TV tomorrow. I'm just not sure how I'm going to fill up a whole day when we can't go anywhere. And I don't like cleaning up throw up. Although Spencer threw up in the garbage can every time today. Great job, Spencer! That's a huge blessing right there. It's not too bad to gather up a garbage bag.

I hope none of the other kids get it. Hannah threw up one day last week, but just one time and she seemed fine right after. But this is much more persistent and seems to be affecting him more. Yuck. Please no more sickies!

In other news, Peter has had several doctor appointments to look at his shoulder. It has been causing him a lot of pain and he hasn't been able to use it much recently. He's really been babying it. He said he's had problems with his shoulder ever since he fell on it in high school, but then the problem is periodically exacerbated by some other exercise. Anyway, the doctors think he might have to have surgery on it, probably in March. Then he won't be able to use it for about 6 weeks. He has some nerve damage and muscle atrophy related to it, which hopefully will improve after surgery. I'm not looking forward to it, from a selfish point of view. We're going on vacation in May and I am not excited about carrying all of the bags by myself. He's already gotten out of all of the shoveling this year - luckily it's been a very mild winter and I haven't had to do too much, either. But I am excited for him to have it fixed and not feel the pain anymore and to have full range of motion. He has a doctors appointment tomorrow afternoon, so then we'll know more.